What the checklist asks for
- a building application and addendum with lot, block, subdivision and job value, plus electrical and plumbing applications where they apply,
- outside agency approvals from Broward County, the Florida DEP or the Army Corps of Engineers,
- two sets of signed and sealed plans, or three for concrete docks,
- a zoning affidavit if the survey is more than a year old,
- a Notice of Commencement,
- updated contractor registration, including a Longshore insurance policy where required,
- an updated dock and seawall survey before the final building inspection, referencing the seawall height and the dock length.
The forms are on the city's Forms page (city checklist).
The Longshore insurance requirement
This one surprises people. The checklist points to Section 932 of the federal Longshore Act and says it is a federal requirement for work over navigable waters. State workers' compensation is only a state requirement and does not satisfy the federal one (city checklist). When you compare contractors, ask whether they carry it.
The survey at the end
Before the final inspection, the city wants an updated survey showing the height of the seawall. That is how it confirms the cap falls within Section 42-381's numbers: at least 4.0 feet NAVD, no more than 5.0 feet after raising, with 3 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 4 inches treated as conforming (Ordinance 2023-0998).
Design points that show up in plan review
- A new or substantially rehabilitated wall must be designed to accommodate a 5.0 foot cap, even if it is built lower.
- If your wall will sit higher than a neighbor's, the plans need return walls on your property, parallel to the property line.
Broward County also requires a license for work in county waters (Broward 311). For the full height rule and whether any deadline applies, see the Lighthouse Point seawall height requirement.